The Rhythm Method and Shame provoke a revolution at London's Scala

For a band who thrive on stage, taking a step up can be daunting. Then again, Shame aren’t like any other band; they’re bringing a whole vibrant scene with them - one that feels wired full of life and vigour, the defiant kick of a generation finding their voice. They’re are the megaphone amplifying the anger, fears and passion felt in a new age - and London's Scala stands as the moment where their path is primed and set. First on, Hotel Lux are a band who, even when opening, make sure to leave their mark. Their woozy and stalking menace brings a chill on each track. Their moment will come, and when it does, it’s bound to be unmissable. With a knack for making every stage their own, it’s mere moments before the packed rows succumb to The Rhythm Method’s alt-disco hooks. Frontman Joey seizes the role of enigmatic wordsmith with primetime swagger, provoking a desire for a knees-up with a band who feel incredibly fresh yet comfortingly classic at the same time. It shimmers from ‘Something For The Weekend’, soundtracking the mundane screens of life in the 21st century with a wink and a smile. Yet what takes things to an altogether new level is that underlying sense of purpose. Irresistibly euphoric, ‘Party Politics’ triggers beaming smiles across the room, while ‘Home Sweet Home’ and its poignant sense of reality is mesmerising. The Rhythm Method are serving notice of their ambitions. “Good songs, aren’t they?” chimes Joey in the midst of the set. Yep, mate. They are. When Shame were playing the pubs and basements that first made their name, there was always a hint of something bigger. A sense that those venues didn’t quite do justice to the importance of what they could stand for. That responsibility is broadcast loud and clear from the moment frontman Charlie Steen strides onto the stage with a tin-foil mask wrapped around him, seizing the role. Embracing that headline status and searing with a confidence that comes from countless nights of experience, tonight ignites from the very first note - a visceral, punchy and vital strike at where they deserve to be. Fleshed out, they’re a cut above their challengers, a pack basking in adoration with the anthems and ferocity to back it up. Latest track ‘Concrete’ captures their evolution perfectly, arms thrown aloft and bodies shaking with intensity. Shame have the material to leave no doubts wherever they go. Throwing himself into the crowd over and over, Charlie holds a magnetic presence. Few bands can reach that level of sheer devotion, where the dropping feel of sweat and the purest of connections radiate on each and every track. The succession of ‘The Lick’ into ‘Tasteless’ is enough to trigger a riot, with Charlie outstretched and triumphant - while new tracks like ‘Friction’ and ‘Angie’ point to a band revelling in their own creativity. He stands defiantly on top of the speakers as closer ‘Gold Hole’ is met with the feverish reaction it’s always looked for, realised in its biggest moment. This is the night that confirms what Shame are destined for. Not just because of their ability to channel emotions into a full-throttle live package, but because they might just provoke a revolution to back it up. “No one ever made a change standing still,” Charlie spits into the crowd, moments before he’s held aloft in the middle of Scala, reaching down to the masses beneath. The seeds of change point to something truly special.